Statement by Ambassador WU Haitao at the General Debate of the Second Committee of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly

2017/10/03

Mr. Chairman,

I wish to extend deep sympathy to the United States government and people, profound condolences to the victims, and sincere solicitude to thosewounded in the mass shooting which caused heavy casualtiesin Las Vegas in the United States.I also wished a quick recovery of the injured.

Mr. Chairman,

I congratulate you on your assumption of the chairmanship of the Second Committee for the current session of the General Assembly. The Chinese delegation will cooperate with you closely as we strive for positive results in the work of this committee. China associates itself with the statement made by Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has charted the course for the development of all countries and international cooperation for development. To advance the 2030 Agenda, it is crucial for all countries to take concrete actions. During the current session, our committee needs to push for closer cooperation among all parties in a joint effort to implement the 2030 Agenda and work for win-win results through cooperation.

First, we must focus on the goal of poverty reduction. Since reducing poverty is the primary goal of the 2030 Agenda, countries must set this goal as the top priority, increase resource input and achieve coordination between efforts in poverty reduction and those for development. The international community must focus on helping developing countries build capacity in poverty reduction, eliminating hunger as well as poverty in all its forms, achieving food security and facilitating the timely realization of the SDGs.

Second, we must optimize development partnerships. The developed countries must honor their commitments in a timely manner, fulfill their obligations and, based on the practical needs of the developing countries, support them in embarking on a path of development suitable to their specific conditions. The international community should maintain the status of North-South cooperation as the main channel, deepen South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, and support other stakeholders including the private sector in playing a bigger role in the development partnership.

Third, we must improve the international environment for development. All sides need to be guided by the principle of “wide consultation, joint contribution and benefit sharing” , make efforts to improve the global economic governance, maintain an open and inclusive multilateral trade system, and strive for economic globalization characterized by openness, inclusiveness, universal benefit, balance, and win-win results. The governance reform of the international financial institutions must be expedited to increase the representation and voice of the developing countries. Multilateral development organs should increase resources dedicated to development.

Fourth, we must strengthen the UN’s development function. There is a need for all sides to support the reform of the development system to steer the UN further towards development and provide strong support to the developing countries in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The reform of the UN development system must always be led by member states, and must concentrate on addressing the problem of inadequate resources and increasing input in development so as to ensure that the reform genuinely benefit the developing countries and satisfy their people.

Mr. Chairman,

As the second largest economy of the world, China will engage in all-round implementation of the development concepts of innovation, coordination, green economy, openness and benefit sharing, advance its supply-side structural reform, and step up efforts to build an open economy spearheaded by innovation.

China’s development will also provide more opportunities to the world. In 2016, China contributed over 30% of the global economic growth. In the coming five years, it is estimated that China will import 8 trillion US dollars of commodities, attract 600 billion US dollars of foreign investment and invest in other countries a total of 750 billion US dollars. All this will continue to give strong impetus to the stable growth of the global economy.

China attaches great importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We have incorporated all the objectives of the Agenda in our overall plan for national development, and combined the implementation of the Agenda seamlessly with that of our medium and long-term development strategies, including the 13th Five Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The concepts and direction of our Belt and Road Initiative, including policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, dovetail with the 2030 Agenda. The two can certainly achieve further coordination and mutual promotion.

Mr. Chairman,

China is ready to work with other member states in a relentless drive towards sustainable development at the global level and the development and prosperity of the whole world.